Mining machine launching device



Feb. 3, 1959 P. L. ALsPAuIGH ETAL 2,872,170

y MINING MACHINE LAUNCHING DEVICE original Filed Nay 11,;953

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS PAUL L. ALSPAUGH JOHN W. HEIMASTER ROY LMCNEILL BYQMPM vll/fig Feb. 3, 1959 P. L. ALSPAUGH ETAL 2,872,170

MINING MACHINE LAUNCNING DEVICE Original Filed May 1l. 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w R N W u m N N Ilh.

N *o n l Nq N 5 I l n d?. j'

INVENTORS PAUL L. ALSPAUGH JOHN W. HElMA-STER ROY L. McNEILL ATTORNEY 2,372,170 Patented lFeb. 3, 1959 MINING MACHINE LAUNCHING DEVICE Paul L. Alspaugh and John W. Heimaster, South Charleston, `and Roy L. McNeill, Charleston, W. Va., assignors to Union `Carbide Corporation, a corporation of New York 7 Claims. (ci. 2152-26) This invention relates to launching platforms for boremining machines of the type shown in our copending parent application Serial No. 353,932, led May l1, 1953, now Patent No. 2,826,402, of which this application is a division.

In general the remotely controlled mining system of our parent application comprises a bore-mining machine, a launching platform, continuous transporting means for conveying the material being mined, and remote control means for the entire system. This launching platform serves as a control station and a part of the conveyor system.

Objects of the present invention are to provide a launching vplatform for positioning the machine for starting a bore, and to guide the machine and control its operation during starting and after the machine has passed into the bore. To enable the machine to make a repass into an already cut hole for deepening it and getting more material out of the hole without widening it, the launching platform is provided with means whereby it can be raised and lowered to bring the machine to the desired elevation with respect to the seam face, where it is automatically leveled.

in the drawings:

Fig. l is a fragmentary view of a bore-mining system, showing in side elevation a bore-mining machine in a bore hole it has cut in a coal seam, the machine being followed by conveyor sections which are attachable in sequence on the launching platform according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention located outJ side the bore;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of an undercarriage of the platform;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a detail of Fig. 3; and

Fig. of Fig. 4.

Prior to the beginning of a coal cutting and removing operation the face of the coal seam B, Figs. l and 2, is exposed for a substantial distance by the formation of a ledge Q by removal of a portion of the hillside S sufticient to expose an upstanding face T of the coal seam for a desirable distance. The remotely controlled selfpropelled tractor tread mining machine A enters the seam B of coal, for example, cutting a hole of oblong cross section with the aid of four front end face cutters C, one pair of which rotates'in'an opposite direction to the other pair. A flight conveyor D in the longitudinal center of the machine A conveys the cut coal rearwardly and delivers it onto a train of belt conveyor sections B connected in series. Each conveyor section has la pair of supporting wheels F and a driving motor for actuating the conveyor belt. Additional conveyor sections are added to the train as the machine proceeds into the coal seam. Fl`he outermost conveyor section delivers the cut coal onto a ight conveyor G substantially aligned with the machine `and conveyor section E. rIhis ight con# 5 is a sectional View taken along the line 5 5 veyor G is extensible to deliver the cut coal onto another conveyor H carrying the coal to a hopper or for delivery into trucks or wherever needed. The launching platform I is adjustable in height by means of hydraulic jacks K to raise or lower the platform to the desired level at which the mining machine A is to enter the coal seam.

At the start of the operation the mining machine A v rests on the platform I near the exposed face of the coal seam and on entry into the seam additional conveyor sections are raised onto the launching platform by a portable crane, not shown, and attached mechanically and electrically to the preceding machine or conveyor section.l The ilight conveyor G on the platform I is of such a length that after each conveyor section is connected it delivers coal, while advancing with the boring progress,

onto the flight conveyor G until the next section is attached. The machine mines the seam as far as the train of conveyor sections and the length of the cables permit. The mining machine not only advances itself during cutting, at a rate of about 18 to 24 inches a minute, but also pulls the conveyor train.

On completion of a hole the mining machine backs out at a faster rate, pushing back the conveyor train. When the mining machine itselfV withdraws from the bore hole and is on the platform I then the platform is lowered with the track rails L and, with the aid of a power winch, the platform and machine A are rolled along the rails L in a direction generally parallel to the exposed face of f the seam into a position for the machine to make another I entry into the seam.

Where the depth of the coal seam is large enoughfto warrant a repass of the machine into the same hole at a lower elevation, the hydraulic jacks are operated to i lower the platform to a new position enabling the machine v to enter the seam again at a lower elevation.

Wind up reels M and N for the power and control cables are provided with means which maintain a desired tension of the cables as the machine backs out of the hole. The sheave P changes the direction ofthe cables for convenience in winding and unwinding them. v The launching platform J is a two-story structure hav-, ing .a rst oor which is normallylevel with the oor of the bore of the mine, being supported in such position by hydraulic jacks K. The cable reels M and'N Y and sheaves P are mounted above the path 'of therear of the conveyor train and the platform conveyor G. The 'l platform I includes a hydraulic control area R in addil tion to the' electrical control house or, room O. The tracks or rails L, which are used'when the platform is moved horizontally, are provided, with relatively wide base plates'262. The rails L are held in xed spaced relationship by cross members 263 and 264 which areA secured to the base plates 262 near the thereof.

To provide support for the machine A and conveyors B in moving over a drainage ditch 265 between the mine opposite ends opening and the first floor of the platform J, cantilever4 extensions 266 are telescopically mounted in suitable supports located under the platform floor. v

When the railsL are elevated above the ground under the platform, they can be moved longitudinally by energizing a moveover rig or platform motor 269 which drives l contain a double acting piston 283 mounted intermediate' the ends of a double-ended piston rod 2&4, the ends of which arelinked by-links`282 to trucks 281. .lournaled intermediate theends of trucks 281e are wheels 275, adapted to carry the platform on the rails L, and to carry the rails from the platform by rail supporting rollers 276. The rollers 276 yare carriedV by arcuate arms 277. l beams-278 and 279 vextending transversely. to the rails L, support'rolls 280- which in turn are mounted on each end of wheeltruck 281. Thus means are provided for the launching platform, whereby it can be moved from place to place on the shelf adjacent the outside of the coal seam`to bel or-,being minedby the system.

The transverseI movement is required to permit the platform to be adjustedtoward and away from an irregular exposedcoal face; Without this second degree of horizontal movement, the-platform'could proceed only in a straight line.

Weiclaim: v

l. A- bore-mining,fmachine'launching 1 platform for positioningpa remotely controlledI self-propelled boremining machine ion a ledge in front of aface for making a bore hole in: a seam therein, and formovement off'of saidrplatformjinto said bore hole and return therefrom `onto said platform, comprising means for raising and lowering said platform with respect to said ledge, means for advancingand retracting said`platform with respect to said face, and means for moving said platform backward and'lforward along said facefandledge'and transverselywith respect `to said bore hole.'

2. A bore-mining machine launching platform adapted to support` a remotely controlled self-propelled boreminingmachine for :movement off Vof said platform' into a bore holemade by, the machine and return therefrom ontosaid platform, track means outside of and `below theplevel Vof they bottom of said bore hole on which said platformY is movable, means'for moving said platform on said track"me'ans,.mea ns forV supporting said platform on said tracks for `movement 'transversely to said tracks,

and means for moving said"platfrm -onsaid supporting.

means in a directio'nltr'ansv'erse tosaid-traols1-` 3. `A bore-mining machine launching platform kadapted to'` supporti a remot'e'ly controlled Yself-propelled tractor'l tread bore-miningvmachine,,said Iplatform having a1 floor receiw'ng saidtractor rtre'adstor supportingsaid machine.

fo`r movement off., of said platform into 4a bore hole made-'bythe machine andreturn therefrom onto saidv platform,` means resting onlth'e` ground outsidevof 'and-below the-level of the `bottom of said bore hole for-supporting.; saidrplat-form.track means below. said platform, meanscarried by said platformvfor supporting saidtrack means,

means ,for lowering said track means onto the groundand lifting said platform supporting-means above-the ground,

means for advancingsaid. platformronsaid track-means inI a directiontransverseto the borehole, means for lowering`the-said platform supporting'means onto'the ground andfelevatingsaidplatform and `track means carried thereby to relatively level position, and'means for advancing said track means toward and away from saidbore hole while said track meansaresupported above 4 the machine conveyor train, means resting on the ground outside of `and below the vlevel of the'bottom'of-said'bore hole for supporting said platform and its conveyor, and means for raising and lowering said platform and its conveyor relative to said supporting means to align said platform with the seam at the point at which it is desired to have the machine and-conveyor train enter said seam.

5. A bore-mining machine launching platform in combination with a remotely controlledself-propelled tractor tread bore-mining machine, saidplatform havinga floor receiving said tractor treads for supporting said machine for movement off of said platform into a bore hole made by the machine and return therefrom onto said platform, said platform having a conveyor, cable reel means mounted on said platform above the path of the machine, means resting on the ground outside of and below thc level of the bottom'of said bore hole for supporting said platform and its cable reel, and means for raising and lowering said platform and its conveyor relative to said supporting means to alignY said platform and cable reel at the desired point where the machine is to enter the seam.

6. A bore-mining machine launching platform in combination with a remotely controlled self-propelled tractor tread boremining machine, said platform having a oor receiving said tractor treads for supporting said machine for movement off of said platformy into a bore hole made by the machine and return therefrom onto said platform, means resting on the ground outside of and below the level of the bottom of said bore hole for supporting said platform, track means below said platform, means carried by said platform for supporting said track means, means for lifting said platform supporting means above the ground, means for advancingsaid platform on said track means in a direction transverse to the bore hole, means for lowering the said platform supporting means onto the ground and elevating Said platform to position relatively level with said borehole, and means for advancingsaid track means toward and away from said bore hole while said track means are supported above the ground.

7. A mining machine launching platform for positioninga minnig machine for makinga hole in a seam, and for movement olf of said platform` into said-holeand're turnvtherefrom onto said platform, comprising means for raising and lowering` said platform with respect to said hole, means for-'movingsaid platform backward and forward along the axis of said hol'eand means for moving said platform transversely with respect to saidhole.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNrr'ED STA/TES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Coal Mine Modernization, 1951, American Mining Congress, pages 305-312.

Coal Age, December 1948pages 76 and 77.

Compton Oct. 4, 1955 

